Multiple compartment dispenser for a laundry appliance

ABSTRACT

A dispensing device adapted for use with an appliance such as a washing machine for dispensing from separate compartments at least two different types of laundry agents such as a detergent, bleach, fabric conditioner, rinsing additive or the like at distinct periods during the operation of the washing machine. A water supply system directs water through a first valve and through the bottom wall of one of the compartments to flush the contents to the treatment zone. A second valve may be selectively actuated in co-relation with the programmed periods of a preset cycle to direct water closely adjacent or through the bottom wall of a second compartment to float the contents by overflow into the first compartment and then to the treatment zone. At the conclusion of the operation, the diluted contents of both compartments readily empty through the bottom wall openings and minimize the accumulation of any residue of the agent or additives in the plumbing or conduit system. In one embodiment a third compartment is associated with the first two compartments and has a separate valve controlled drain for selectively draining the contents contained therein into the treatment zone.

United States Patent Bunnell et al.

[ MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT DISPENSER FOR A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE [72] Inventors: Douglm E. Bunnell, Berrien Springs; Douglas J. Walker, St. Joseph, both of Mich.

[731 Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: April 23, 1971 2| Appl. No.: 136,956

[52] US. Cl ..222/l45, 222/132, 68/17 R [5|] lnt.Cl. ..B67d5/60 [58] Field ofSearch ..222/l45, 193, B2, l29, 70, 222/76, 136; 68/17 R Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-James M. Slattery Attorney-James S. Nettleton, Thomas E. Turcotte,

[ Oct. 10,1972

Donald W. Thomas, Gene A. Heth, Franklin C. Hatter, Anthony Niewyk, Robert L. Judd and Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross 8t- Simpson [57] ABSTRACT A dispensing device adapted for use with an appliance such as a washing machine for dispensing from separate compartments at least two different types of laundry agents such as a detergent, bleach, fabric conditioner, rinsing additive or the like at distinct periods during the operation of the washing machine. A water supply system directs water through a first valve and through the bottom wall of one of the compartments to flush the contents to the treatment zone. A second valve may be selectively actuated in co-relation with the programmed periods of a preset cycle to direct water closely adjacent or through the bottom wall of a second compartment to float the contents by overflow into the first compartment and then to the treatment zone. At the conclusion of the operation, the diluted contents of both compartments readily empty through the bottom wall openings and minimize the accumulation of any residue of the agent or additives in the plumbing or conduit system. In one embodiment a third compartment is associated with the first two compartments and has a separate valve controlled drain for selectively draining the contents contained therein into the treatment zone.

8 Clalns, 7 Drawing figures PATENTEDflcI 10 I972 SHEET 2 BF 3 e m W max 5 6 WM 00 QR ATTORNEYS BY MIWJMMI W /ja MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT DISPENSER FOR A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to a dispensing device and particularly a dispensing device for selectively dispensing different laundry agents into a treatment zone of a laundry device.

2. Prior Art In home laundry devices such as automatic washing machines, dispensing devices have been provided for adding a laundry agent such as a detergent or soap to the treatment zone or tub of the laundry device at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation of the device. An example of such a dispensing device is disclosed and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,204,831, issued Sept. 7, I965 which patent is assigned to the assignee of the present application.

In providing a dispenser for a laundry machine, different types of dispensers have been suggested. For example, dispensers for dispensing a liquid laundry agent have been proposed which utilize a siphon which is primed by the addition of water at a predetermined point in the operation cycle of the device to cause the dispensing of the liquid laundry agent. Since it may be undesirable to disperse the agent in a concentrated form directly into the treatment zone, another approach for dispensing a liquid laundry agent is to add water to the container in which the agent is being stored to cause the agent to mix with the water and to overflow the container into the tub or treatment zone of the washing device. Both of these types of dispensers are limited for use with an agent which is in liquid form.

To handle an agent in a granular or powder form, a dispensing device has been proposed which has a container in which the powdered laundry agent is placed. To dispense the agent, water is added to the container to cause the agent to overflow into the treatment zone. Another proposed dispenser for granular agents adds water to a container to dissolve the agent and to prime a siphon which then discharges the agent into the treatment zone.

In many of the prior art dispensers problems have occurred due to an accumulation of a residue from the liquid or solid agents which accumulation interferes with the functioning of the dispenser. Dispensers which handled an agent in granular form have experienced problems with the moisture in the dispenser causing caking of the agents, which caking interfers with the proper dispensing action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a dispensing device for dispensing at least two different types of an agent such as detergent, rinsing additives and the like into a treatment zone of an appliance. The device includes at least a pair of compartments or containers which may have stepped side walls for measuring different amounts of agent, with the one compartment of the pair having a drain in communication with the treatment zone and the other compartment having an overflow discharging into the first compartment. The device is provided with a water supply means which selectively directs water to either or both compartments through valve controlled openings in the bottom wall of each respective compartment or closely adjacent the bottom wall. Thus, the contents of the compartment tend to be floated upwardly and mixed with the incoming water. At the end of dispensing from the second compartment, the diluted contents of the second compartment drains through the bottom opening into the first compartment for ultimate discharge into the treatment zone, thus minimizing caking and residual buildup in the conduit lines. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a third compartment formed with a separate drain controlled by a drain valve for selectively draining a liquid agent into the treatment zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial isometric view of a washing device having a dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a structural embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line lV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view with a bottom plate of the dispenser removed for purposes of illustration, taken along line VV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI VI of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The principles of the present invention are particularly adapted in a dispensing device diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2 and generally indicated at 10. The dispensing device 10 has a first compartment 11, a second compartment 12, a third compartment I3 and water supply means IS.

The device 10 is particularly useful when provided in an appliance such as an automatic washing machine generally indicated at 16 (FIG. I) to separately dispense agents such as soap, detergents, bleach, rinsing additives, and fabric conditioners into a treatment zone 17 of the machine. The machine has an outer cabinet 18 with a top panel 19 having an opening 20 for access to the treatment zone I7 which is formed by an imperforate tub having a perforated basltet containing an agitator mounted for movement therein. Adjacent the opening 20, the top panel 19 has three openings 22, 23 and 24 which are closed by a lid 25. The device I0 is mounted beneath the panel 19 with the compartments 1], I2 and 13 being aligned with the openings 22, 23 and 24 respectively. Mounted on the rear of the panel 19 is a splash shield 26 containing operating cycle selectors such as dial 27, which selectors are connected to a control means which controls the operating steps of the machine in a selected sequence or cycle of steps. While the machine 16 illustrated in FIG. I is a vertical axis automatic washing machine, it should be realized that the dispensing device 10 can be utilized with other types of washing machines or with other appliances using agent or additives and that the particular structure of the machine 16 illustrated in FIG. I is just an example of an ap pliance with which the device 10 can be used.

The water supply means 15 of the device is connected to a source of water in the appliance 16, which source can be a pump for recirculating the washing and/or rinsing waters. The water supply means has a first conduit 30 having a first valve 31 to control the flow of fluid from the source to the conduit 30 which terminates in a port 32 for supplying a stream of water into the first compartment 11 either through or closely adjacent the bottom wall 33. The water supply means 15 also includes a second conduit 34 which branches off the first conduit 30 between the valve 31 and port 32 for diverting a portion of the flow of water to the second compartment 12 with the flow of the water through the conduit 34 being controlled by a second valve means 35 which has an outlet port 36 in communication with the second compartment 12 through or closely adjacent bottom wall 37.

The compartment 11 has a drain or discharge port 38 adjacent the bottom wall 33 which drain discharges into the treatment zone 17 to allow any liquid entering the first compartment 11 to drain into the treatment zone. The second compartment 12 is provided with means forming an overflow discharge 39 to allow overflow of any liquid and/or mixtures of liquid and additive to be discharged into the first compartment 1 1.

The third compartment 13 is provided with a drain 41 that discharges directly into the treatment zone 17 to control the draining of the contents from the third compartment 13, the drain 41 has a separate valve means 42. The third compartment 13 is also provided with an overflow drain means 43 which bypasses the valve means 42 and communicates directly with the drain 41.

A feature of the device 10 is that one side wall 44 of the second compartment 12 and one side wall 45 of the third compartment 13 are both provided with volume indicating means to aid the operator in filling each of the compartments. For example, side wall 44 has a step-like configuration of vertical portions 46, 47 and 48 and horizontal portions 49, 50 and S 1. The horizontal portions 49, 50 and 51 provide level indications for different known volumes. For example, when the compartment 12 is filled to the level indicated by horizontal portion 49, it contains one-fourth cup. The portion 50 indicates a level for one-third cups and portion 51 indicates a level for one-half cup. in a similar manner, the side wall 45 is provided with a step-like configuration identified by like reference numerals.

In operation, the dispenser has various washing agents placed in its three compartments 1], 12 and 13. For example, detergent in the powdered form is usually placed in the first compartment 11, a liquid agent such as bleach is placed in the compartment 13 and a laundry agent such as a fabric conditioner or rinsing additive, which can be either a liquid or powder, is placed in the second compartment 12.

During the washing cycle of the washing machine 16, the valve 31 is opened to admit water through the port 32 which water washes the contents of the first compartment 11 out through the drain 38 into the treatment zone 17. The action of the water passing from the water supply means 15 flushes all of the powder such as a detergent through the drain 38 and thus prevents accumulation of residues. At the completion of the step of addition of the detergent, the valve 31 is closed.

if the third compartment 13 contains a laundry agent such as a bleach, the control means for the machine 16 at the predetermined point in the operation or cycle of the apparatus will open the valve 42 to allow the liquid bleach to drain from the third compartment 13 through the drain 41 into the treatment zone 17. In many operations, the bleach is added during the last few minutes of the washing cycle.

if the second compartment 12 contains a laundry agent such as a rinse additive or fabric conditioner which is preferably added during a rinsing operation such as a deep rinse of the machine, the valve 31 is opened causing a recirculating rinse water to flow through the port 32. The valve 35 is also opened to direct a portion of the water through the second conduit 34 into the second compartment 12. By the addition of the water to the second compartment 12, the water flows upwardly and carries the additive upwardly for a good mixing action whereupon it overflows into the fust compartment 1 I. it is then additionally flushed or washed through the drain 38 into the treatment zone 17. With the continued adding of the water through the second conduit to the second compartment, the concentration of the additive in the second compartment is diluted to a very weak solution of a concentration approaching the rinse water concentration. Since the overflow is mingling with the flushing fluids, the agent or rinse additive is in a dilute form when added to the treatment zone 17 and thus any chances of damaging a particular piece of fabric or material is greatly reduced. Near the completion of the step of adding water to the second compartment, the valve 31 is closed to stop the flow of water to the device. By this time and in view of the construction of the device any residual liquid or rinse agent in compartment 12 will be very diluted and will readily drain from the compartment 12 through the conduit 34, the port 32 into the first compartment 11 to drain through the drain 38 into the treatment zone 17 thereby minimizing encrustation of the plumbing conduit 34, etc. It should be noted that the bottom wall 37 of the second compartment 12 is vertically displaced above the port 32 and bottom wall 33 so that the liquid in the second compartment 12 is completely removed to prevent accumulation of any residue of the laundry agent contained therein and also enables the compartment 12 to dry out during the remainder of the cycle of the machine 16.

As mentioned above, the laundry agent placed in the compartment 12 can be a liquid which is diluted by the addition of the rinse water during the dispersing step. If the agent is in a powdered or granular form, the water starts the dissolving of the agent and the partially dissolved and solid particles of the agent are discharged by overflow through the overflow means 39 into the first compartment 11. Upon completion of the dispensing and draining of the liquid from the second compartment, the second valve 35 is closed. it should be noted that a small portion of the liquid which was in the compartment 12 will remain in the conduit 34; however, due to the fact that it is in a very dilute state and substantially water, any problems concerning the accumulation of residues in the conduit 34 and the valve 35 are greatly reduced.

A structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is illustrated in F105. 3-7

and includes a body member 60 and a plate member 61 joined thereto. The body member 60 is a molded member preferably of a molded plastic and has portions defining side walls 62, 63, 64 and 65 of the compartment 11. The body member also has a cavity defining the second compartment 12 which is adjacent the side wall 63 of the first compartment and a second cavity defining the compartment 13 which is adjacent the side wall 64 of the first compartment. The bottom wall 33 for the first compartment 1 1 is formed by the plate member 61 which coacts with a hood 66 formed in the side wall 62 of the first cavity to form the drain or discharge port 38 of the first compartment.

The plate member 61 is also provided with a stub conduit 68 (FIG. 6) which forms part of the first conduit 30 of the water supply means 15. The stub 68 has a T-shape configuration with a branch 69 (FIG. 3) which forms a part of the second conduit 34. The stub 68 terminates in the port 32 which, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, is located in a projection 70 on the side wall 65. The projection '70 has a triangular shape diverging from the port 32 with a slanting upper wall 71 which converts a stream of water passing through the port 32 into a diverging fan-shaped stream and directs the diverging stream along the bottom wall 33 to flush the compartment 11.

To enable liquid to overflow from the second compartment 12 into the first compartment 11, the overflow means 39 is provided in the wall 63 therebetween. Preferably the overflow means 39 comprises a notch 72 in the wall 63. To prevent liquid entering the first compartment 11 from splashing into the second compartment 12, a splash shield 73 extends across the first compartment adjacent the wall 63 and is spaced therefrom by a ramp 74. As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the ramp 74 is slanting toward an opening 75 through which the liquid that overflows through the notch 72 falls into the stream of water flushing through the first compartment 11. Thus the ramp 74 conveys the liquid discharged from compartment 12 to a point that discharges the overflowing liquid into the diverging stream of flowing water. As illustrated, the wall 63 has a lower portion 63a offset from the upper portion 63b to insure the flow of the diverging stream beneath the opening 75.

To introduce the water into the second compartment 12, a valve housing 76 is integrally formed with one side wall 77 of the compartment. The valve housing 76 (FIG. 7) has a short conduit 78 terminating in a valve seat 79 which coacts with a valve member carried on an actuating means (not illustrated) that is secured to the housing 76 to form the second valve means 35. The valve housing 76 has an annular space 80 around the seat 79, which space has an aperture that forms the port 36 (FIG. 5) for the second compartment 12. To insure drainage of any liquid from the second compartment 12 through the port 36 and the housing 76, the bottom wall 37 of the second compartment slopes toward a recess 81 (FIGS. 3 and 5) along the side wall 77 and the recess is level with the port 36. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the side wall 77 has a curved configuration to cause a swirling movement to the water entering the compartment 12 through the port 36 which swirling movement insures a good mixing of the fluid with the contents and insures the washing of the contents from the bottom wall 37.

To complete the conduit 34 of the water supply means 15, the stub conduits 69 and 78 are interconnected with a conduit such as flexible tubing and the valve member and actuator are mounted on the housing 76. The conduit or line 30 is completed by attaching the first valve means 31 which can be a conventional solenoid type valve to the stub conduit 68 and by connecting the valve 31 by flexible tubing to the source.

The third compartment 13 has a side wall which has an integral conduit or passage 91 which is in communication with the drain 41 and extends to a point 92 below the periphery 93 of the compartment to form the overflow drain 43. integrally formed with the conduit 91 and side wall 90 adjacent the bottom wall 94 is a valve housing 95 which has a valve seat 96 which cooperates with a valve member which is assembled on the housing 95 to form the valve means 42. The housing 95 has a short conduit 97 extending from the seat 96 through the conduit 91 into the compartment 13 and a port 98 which is in communication with the drain 41. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bottom wall 94 slopes toward the conduit 97 to insure drainage of the contents through the valve means 42.

To mount the dispenser 10 in a washing machine, the body 60 is provided with mounting pads such as projecting bracket which can be provided with an aperture 106 to receive fastening means such as threaded screws.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to employ within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A dispensing device for separately storing and dispensing at least two quantities of an agent into a treatment zone of an appliance, said device comprising:

a first compartment having a drain in communication with the treatment zone; a second compartment having means fonning a discharge passage into the first compartment; and

water supply means including first valve means for selectively providing water to the first compartment to flush the contents therein through the drain into the treatment zone;

said water supply means including second valve means for selectively supplying a portion of the water passing through the first valve means to the second compartment to thereby discharge the contents contained in said second compartment through said discharge passage into the first compartment to be flushed into the treatment zone through said drain;

said water supply means being arranged such that the closing of said first valve means with said second valve means remaining open allows fluid to drain from said second compartment into said first compartment for discharge into said treatment zone.

2. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said discharge e comprises means defining an overflow passage from said second compartment into said first compartment.

3. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said first compartment has a bottom wall, said second compartment has a bottom wall positioned at a level above the bottom wall of said first compartment, and wherein said water supply means communicates with each of said compartments at the level of the respective bottom wall.

4. A dispensing device according to claim 3, which further includes a third compartment, with each of said three compartments being integrally formed as a unit, said third compartment having a drain including valve means for enabling selective drainage of the contents thereof into said treatment zone.

5. A dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein said first compartment has means for changing the stream of water from the water supply means into a diverging stream and for directing the diverging stream along the bottom of the compartment to insure a thorough flushing of any agent therefrom.

6. A dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein said second compartment has a side wall common with an upper portion of one of the side walls of the first compartment, and wherein the means forming the overflow discharge is located in said common side wall.

7. A dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the means forming the overflow discharge includes a spray shield for preventing liquid in the first companment from splashing into the second compartment.

8. A dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein the second compartment has at least one wall fomted in a step-like configuration composed of vertical and horizontal portions with the horizontal portions being disposed at predetermined levels to indicate the volume of the compartment for each horizontal level, whereby an operator filling said second compartment can easily ascertain the volume of the contents added thereto.

i II t i I 

1. A dispensing device for separately storing and dispensing at least two quantities of an agent into a treatment zone of an appliance, said device comprising: a first compartment having a drain in communication with the treatment zone; a second compartment having means forming a discharge passage into the first compartment; and water supply means including first valve means for selectively providing water to the first compartment to flush the contents therein through the drain into the treatment zone; said water supply means including second valve means for selectively supplying a portion of the water passing through the first valve means to the second compartment to thereby discharge the contents contained in said second compartment through said discharge passage into the first compartment to be flushed into the treatment zone through said drain; said water supply means being arranged such that the closing of said first valve means with said second valve means remaining open allows fluid to drain from said second compartment into said first compartment for discharge into said treatment zone.
 2. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said discharge passage comprises means defining an overflow passage from said second compartment into said first compartment.
 3. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said first compartment has a bottom wall, said second compartment has a bottom wall positioned at a level above the bottom wall of said first compartment, and wherein said water supply means communicates with each of said compartments at the level of the respective bottom wall.
 4. A dispensing device according to claim 3, which further includes a third compartment, with each of said three compartments being integrally formed as a unit, said third compartment having a drain including valve means for enabling selective drainage of the contents thereof into said treatment zone.
 5. A dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein said first compartment has means for changing the stream of water from the water supply means into a diverging stream and for directing the diverging stream along the bottom of the compartment to insure a thorough flushing of any agent therefrom.
 6. A dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein said second compartment has a side wall common with an upper portion of one of the side walls of the first compartment, and wherein the means forming the overflow discharge is located in said common side wall.
 7. A dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the means forming the overflow discharge includes a spray shield for preventing liquid in the first compartment from splashing into the second compartment.
 8. A dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein the second compartment has at least one wall formed in a step-like configuration composed of vertical and horizontal portions with the horizontal portions being disposed at predetermined levels to indicate the volume of the compartment for each horizontal level, whereby an operator filling said second compartment can easily ascertain the volume of the contents added thereto. 